Since 1982.

WE ARE EXPERTS

As lawyers, we have a responsibility to not just practice law, but to create it. We are proud of an established legal track record at Gevurtz Menashe, guided over the years by pioneers that lead by example, and vanguards that include six sitting judges in three Oregon counties, along with countless other prominent leaders that continue to make an impact in our community and legislative and judicial systems.

Albert Menashe became a lawyer to help people, and built Gevurtz Menashe with his partner, Ron Gevurtz, in 1982 on the principles of service and community. Since then, he and the attorneys at Gevurtz Menashe have successfully counseled thousands of families over the past several decades.

Keeping it in the family business, Albert passed the reins to his son Shawn in 2012, who has managed the practice since. Over the last decade, Shawn has guided Gevurtz Menashe into new realms of the law on the same principles as his father. In 2013, we proudly added estate planning services to provide continued care for our clients throughout their lifetime.

Our History

INDUSTRY IMPACT1978

Albert Menashe becomes founding member of the Oregon State Bar’s Family Law Section, which continues to meet annually, and serve thousands of family law professionals throughout Oregon. Learn more.

CULTURE & COMMUNITY1982

Gevurtz & Menashe P.C. Begins Family Law Practice

In the spring of 1982, co-founders Ronald Gevurtz & Albert Menashe, and Paula Kurshner open doors to Gevurtz & Menashe P.C. law firm in downtown Portland, representing clients exclusive to family law related matters. The partners agreed at that time to never expand beyond six lawyers.

INDUSTRY IMPACT1993

Prior to joining Gevurtz Menashe, from 1993 to 1997, Bill Howe served as Chair of the legislatively created Oregon Task Force on Family Law, having been appointed by Governor Barbara Roberts. Albert Menashe and Ron Gevurtz were also appointed as members. This Task Force proposed twelve statutes designed to make family law procedures in Oregon less adversarial and provide a model of best family law practices. All of the Task Force’s recommendations became law.

Over the years, several of our attorneys including Bill Howe, Albert Menashe, and Ron Gevurtz have been asked to testify as family law experts before the Oregon Legislature.

INDUSTRY IMPACT1993

Paula Kurshner Appointed To the Multnomah County Circuit Court Bench

Co-founding partner Paula Kurshner is appointed by the Governor as a circuit court judge in Multnomah County where she served for 23 years. Since then, Gevurtz Menashe has proudly trained six additional family law attorneys prior to becoming members of the Oregon judiciary and executive branch, including Oregon Governor Kate Brown.

INDUSTRY IMPACT1999

Gevurtz Menashe moves to US Bank Corp Tower

With 28 full-time family law attorneys, spread across three locations including Gresham, Beaverton and downtown, Gevurtz Menashe moves its headquarters to the US Bank Corp Tower. Continuing to represent clients throughout the Pacific Northwest, Gevurtz Menashe proudly became the 2nd largest family law firm in the country.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS2007

Albert Menashe is elected Oregon State Bar president after serving on the Board of Governors for three years. Prior to that, he served as President of the Multnomah Bar Association in 1997. Learn more.

INDUSTRY IMPACT2008

Because of our deep roots in Oregon's legal community, several of our lawyers have proposed important family law legislation through the years including representing clients in nationally precedent setting cases.

One prominent example is the case of Dahl v Angle. Marshal Spector represented the wife at trial and Bill Howe, with PaigeDe Muniz’s assistance, represented her on appeal. The question presented was which party could decide the fate of six frozen embryos resulting from the couple’s attempt to conceive in vitro. Both the trial court and the Court of Appeals agreed that our client, the wife, could decide. This decision made Oregon the ninth state to consider this situation. In every case Courts had ruled that no child would come to life without both biological parents consent. However, Oregon was the first to apply contract rules in making the decision. This case has been frequently cited in other jurisdictions. Learn more.

CULTURE & COMMUNITY2010

Gevurtz Menashe Opens Vancouver Office

Gevurtz Menashe opens doors to Vancouver office, where our family law and estate planning attorneys proudly serve SW Washington clients today. In 2011, Gevurtz Menashe began making the Vancouver Business Journal's Top 5 List of laws firms in Clark County. We continue to be a proud member of the Clark County legal community. Learn more.

CULTURE & COMMUNITY2012

Shawn Menashe becomes Managing Shareholder of Gevurtz Menashe. Shawn joined the firm as a new family law associate in 2003 after graduating from the University of Oregon School of Law.

Shawn succeeded his father, Albert, who managed the firm for 30 years and laid the foundation for a smooth transition of leadership and action. Albert has resumed to the fulltime practice of family law. Learn more.

CULTURE & COMMUNITY2013

After 33 years in downtown Portland, and the lst 15 years in the US Bank Corp Tower, Gevurtz Menashe renovates and relocates to historic Fleischner Mayer building—creating a new home in Old Town/Chinatown. Learn more.

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